OXIDOREDUCTASES FROM TOMATO FRUIT: INHIBITORY EFFECT OF A FUNGAL GLUCOSE OXIDASE

Glucose oxidase (GOD) produced by a strain of Penicillium (Penicillium variabile P16) was employed, in a model system, to control the activities of tomato lipoxygenase (LPO), polyphenoloxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD). GOD in-hibited all three enzymes, at the typical pH of tomato fruit (4.3), i.e., the LPO was inhibited up to ca. 88%, the PPO up to ca. 63% and the POD up to ca. 50%. GOD also prevented β-carotene bleaching caused by these enzymes.     

Mathematical modelling of the diffusion of ascorbic acid during water blanching of surface frozen potato strips

Partial freezing is a promising technique in producing good quality french fries, especially for potatoes stored for an extended period and containing large amounts of reducing sugars. The cell damage of the potato strip caused by surface freezing facilitates surface leaching of reducing sugars and other soluble solids like ascorbic acid, preventing undesirable dark colour in the finish-fried products. A theoretical study to describe the diffusion of ascorbic acid during the water blanching at 50°C of surface frozen potato strips (10 x 10 x 80 mm) is developed. Ascorbic acid profiles as a function of blanching time, position in the potato strip and thickness of the frozen layer are shown as well as average retention as a function of blanching time, frozen layer thickness, apparent diffusion coefficient and mass transfer coefficient of ascorbic acid. Significant changes in the ascorbic acid concentration during blanching are produced in the frozen layer. Ascorbic acid average retention is mainly influenced by frozen layer thickness and temperature, and the mass transfer coefficient is less important.     

EXTRACTION OF VICTORIA AND RED GLOBE GRAPE SEED OILS USING SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE WITH AND WITHOUT ETHANOL

SFE of the oils of two varieties of grape seeds (Victoria and Red Globe) was performed in a flow apparatus at 40C and 250 bar. The effect of the solvent on the extraction yield was studied using CO₂ and CO₂ modified with ethanol, and the yield of extraction was compared with conventional extraction methods (Bligh and Dyer and Soxhlet using hexane). SC CO₂  +  ethanol extracted higher lipid amounts from both varieties, compared with SC CO₂ extraction. The comparison between SFE and conventional extraction methods showed that the highest extraction yield was obtained with SC CO₂  +  ethanol (10%, w/w) (14.7 and 11.8% for Red Globe and Victoria grape seeds, respectively), while pure SC CO₂ afforded the lowest lipid yields. The fatty acid compositions of the oils obtained by SFE were analyzed. Fractions containing higher proportions of PUFAs were obtained at lower solvent/dry grape seed ratios, while fractions richer in SFAs and MUFAs were obtained at higher solvent/dry grape seed ratios.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

SFE could fractionate grape seed oil and afford various grades of oil containing different proportions of fatty acids. The highest grape seed lipid yield obtained was with SC CO₂ + ethanol, making this solvent a promising and powerful one for grape seed oil extraction, showing a great advantage compared with conventional extraction methods.